1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game

The 1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game was the finals of the 1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament and it determined the national champion for the 1996–97 season. The game was played on March 31, 1997, at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana and featured the West Regional Champion and defending national champion, #1-seeded Kentucky versus the Southeast Regional Champion, #4-seeded Arizona.

1997 NCAA Tournament Championship Game
National championship game
Arizona Wildcats Kentucky Wildcats
Pac-10 SEC
(24–9) (35–4)
84 79
Head coach:
Lute Olson
Head coach:
Rick Pitino
1st half2nd halfOT Total
Arizona Wildcats 334110 84
Kentucky Wildcats 32425 79
DateMarch 31, 1997
VenueRCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana
MVPMiles Simon, Arizona
FavoriteKentucky by 7
RefereesTim Higgins, Ted Valentine, and Tom O'Neil
Attendance47,028
United States TV coverage
NetworkCBS
AnnouncersJim Nantz (play-by-play)
Billy Packer (color)
Michele Tafoya and Andrea Joyce (sideline)
← 1996
1998 →

Arizona defeated Kentucky 84–79 to win their first national championship in school history. Due to Kentucky coming back to win the national championship in 1998, Arizona effectively denied Kentucky a potential three-peat from 1996 to 1998.

This was the final national championship won by the Pac-12 Conference, which folded in 2024.

Participating teams

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Arizona Wildcats

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  • Southeast
    • (4) Arizona 65, (13) South Alabama 57
    • (4) Arizona 73, (12) College of Charleston 69
    • (4) Arizona 85, (1) Kansas 82
    • (4) Arizona 96, (10) Providence 92
  • Final Four
    • (SE4) Arizona 66, (E1) North Carolina 58

[1]

Kentucky Wildcats

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  • West
    • (1) Kentucky 92, (16) Montana 58
    • (1) Kentucky 75, (8) Iowa 69
    • (1) Kentucky 83, (4) Saint Joseph's 68
    • (1) Kentucky 72, (2) Utah 59
  • Final Four
    • (W1) Kentucky 78, (MW1) Minnesota 69

Starting lineups

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Arizona Position Kentucky
Mike Bibby G Wayne Turner
Miles Simon G Anthony Epps
Bennett Davison F Ron Mercer 1
Michael Dickerson F Scott Padgett
A. J. Bramlett C Jamaal Magloire
1997 Consensus First Team All-American
 Players selected in the 1997 NBA draft  (number indicates round)

Source

Game summary

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CBS
Monday, March 31
#SE4 Arizona Wildcats 84, #W1 Kentucky Wildcats 79 (OT)
Scoring by half: 33–32, 41–42 Overtime: 10–5
Pts: Miles Simon 30
Rebs: Mike Bibby 9
Asts: Jason Terry 5
Pts: Scott Padgett 17
Rebs: Nazr Mohammed 11
Asts: Ron Mercer 6
RCA DomeIndianapolis, Indiana
Attendance: 47,028
Referees: Tim Higgins, Ted Valentine and Tom O'Neil

References

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  1. ^ "RotoWire Fantasy Football, Baseball, Basketball and More".